Nylon inking ribbon having sprocket holes



Sept. 16, 1969 R, GLENN ET AL 3,467,235

NYLON INKING RIBBON HAVING SPROCKET HOLES Filed March 22, 1967 Il Y United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 197--172 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A relatively wide endless ribbon of stretchable light gauze mesh nylon for use with computer machines. The woven fabric material has aligned rows of spaced perforations adjacent and inwardly spaced from the edges of the ribbon, which perforations -are formed by hot stamping the ribbon so as to form fused peripheral edges of perforations forming solid rings integral with the woven fabric material. The ribbon is fully inked with a coating of pressure transferable pigment-ed material, such as an ink preferably containing carbon or other lubricant which will not only serve for providing for printing, but will also lubricate the sprockets and minimize the friction of the relative motion of the ribbon with respect to the sprockets to insure against skewing of the ribbon and to enable the ribbon to be stretched and travel squarely in alignment as it passes through the printing mechanism of a computer machine.

This invention relates to a ribbon adapted for use in a computer machine.

Various types of inking ribbons are provided for use in computer machines. Heretofore, these inking ribbons have been somewhat unsatisfactory because the printing mechanism of the computer has generally caused the ribbon to skew or slide or be twisted somewhat out of alignment so that the indicia printed using such ribbon has not been as clear as is desired or necessary for use by computer machines. While sprockets for driving the ribbon heretofore could be utilized, these previously had two disadvantages. First, the ribbon was likely to stick at the sprockets, and secondly a ribbon made of material strong enough to resist twisting and skewing and to be moved by sprockets were generally too thick to allow for accurate printing. In order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior printing ribbons, and with the understanding that the ribbons as used are relatively wide depending on the size of the computing machine with which they are employed, the present invention has the concept of utilizing a relatively wide light gauze mesh nylon ribbon which has a plurality of perforations adjacent the edges thereof. These perforations have fused peripheral edges so that the amount of friction with respect to the sprockets is reduced and accurate movement of the ribbon is increased due to the fact that there is relatively little wear or fraying of the ribbon at the perforations, and in addition, the ink or transferable pigmented material used with the ribbon has an additional function of lubricating the sprockets and ribbon.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of a nylon ribbon which may be held in a stretched position by sprockets and which will allow for sharper and clearer printing than is possible by printing ribbons now in use.

Still further objects and features of the present invention reside in the provision of a printing ribbon for computer machines that is simple in construction and manufacture, durable, and efficient in use.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this printing ribbon for computer machines, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a printing ribbon prior to having perforations formed therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the plane of line 2 -2 in FIG. 1, and after having sprocket holes formed therein, with a suitable ink coating;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the plane of line 3-3 in FIG. 1, and after having sprocket holes formed therein;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the completed ribbon; and,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the ribbon.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates an elongated ribbon formed of a stretchable Woven relatively light gauze mesh fabric material, preferably such as nylon. The transverse dimensions of the ribbon 10 are relatively large, as for example in the order of one and one-half feet or two feet for use in the printing equipment of a computer machine. Various types of computer machines employ printing means in one section thereof which provide indicia which are utilized for operations of other phases of the computer machine and it is necessary to have relatively wide printing ribbons for use in such computer machines which may have relatively wide printing heads. The ribbon 10 as can be best seen in FIG. 2, is woven of a light relatively open gauze having woven threads as indicated at 12 and 14. The ribbon 10 is stretchable. A coating of a pressure transferable pigmented material 16 such as a carbon containing ink is disposed on the ribbon 10 either prior to the punching of sprocket holes 18 and 20 therein or thereafter. The material 16 has lubricating properties.

Using a hot stamping device, sprocket holes 18 and 20 are formed in the ribbon 10 along the line of markings 22 and 24 respectively. Because the nylon material is thermoplastic, as can be seen best in FIG. 3, about the periphery of the sprocket holes 18 and 20 there will be fused rings 28 formed which are integral with the threads 12 and 14. The rings 28 are solid and are adapted to engage with suitable sprockets with a resulting minimal amount of friction. Moreover, because of the pigmented pressure transferable material coating on one face of the ribbon 10, the friction will be further decreased due to the lubricating effect of the pigmented pressure transferable material 16 thereon.

In manufacturing the ribbon 10, the pigmented material 16 may be applied either before or after the ribbon 10 is received from the supply thereof and at the punching station, the sprocket holes 18 and 20 are formed along but spaced from the peripheral edges of the ribbon 10. At the punching station, the material is fused to form the rings 28 which are at'least as thick as the rest of the ribbon 10.

We claim:

1. A relatively wide elongated ribbon of stretchable woven relatively light gauze mesh fabric thermoplastic material having aligned rows of spaced perforations adjacent and inwardly spaced from the edges of said ribbon, said perforations having fused peripheral edges forming solid peripheral rings integral with said woven fabric material, and a coating of pressure-transferable pigmented material on both faces of said ribbon, said pigmented '4 material extending into said perforations and being a sprocket lubricating material lubricating said solid peripheral rings.

No references cited.

5 ERNEST T. WRIGHT, JR., Primary Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 156-251; 264-154 

